williamson county fy 2012 – 2014 community plan county fy 2012 – 2014 community plan ... the...

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Williamson County FY 2012 – 2014 Community

Plan For Coordination of Criminal Justice and Related Activities

INTRODUCTION Williamson County has experienced sustained and significant population growth since the 1990’s. Williamson

County was the 14th fastest growing county in the nation lst year. The only other Texas county having a larger

population growth is Rockwall County in the Dallas-Ft Worth area. Williamson County is north of Travis County

which contains the state capitol of Austin. Georgetown, the county seat, lies along the IH-35 corridor. Physically,

the eastern part of the county is level black land soil and the western part is rolling limestone hills, all drained by

the San Gabriel River and tributaries. The county was organized in 1848 and named for Robert M. Williamson,

pioneer leader and veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto. The county has a lively history including Comanche's,

outlaws, Texas Rangers, the Chisholm Trail, cowboys , and sturdy pioneers. Today the county is a combination of

both urban and rural populations, and is a center for agribusiness, education and high-tech industry. The county

hosts five major hospitals and four universities, including Southwestern University, Texas State University, Austin

Community College, and the Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Round Rock.

Williamson County has 2,856 acres of parkland addressing the varied recreational interests of it's citizens,

including a significant number of miles of hike and bike trails. There are approximately 70 tennis courts, 69

soccer fields, 57 baseball fields, 64 softball fields, 20 football fields, 20 basketball courts, and 20 volleyball

courts.. In addition, there are numerous golf courses, city recreation centers and YMCA's to encourage

healthy lifestyles. In 2011 Williamson County was named the healthiest county in the State of Texas for the

second year in a row.

A map of the county with its major cities and surrounding counties is included on the following page.

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COUNTY STATISTICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS

The county covers 1,135 square miles and is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. The 2010 U. S.

Census showed that the county population was 422,679, up from the 2000 Census count of 249,967 which reflected

a 69% growth during the previous decade. The remarkable growth is outlined below.

COUNTY POPULATION DATA

1980 Census 76,521

1990 Census 139,551 82.4% increase



The cities that comprise the population are Bartlett, Cedar Park, Florence, Georgetown, Granger, Hutto, Jarrell,

Leander, Liberty Hill, Round Rock, Taylor, Thorndale, Thrall and Weir. Round Rock is the largest city in the

county with 99,887 population in the 2010 Census. Williamson County has a population that is both rural and

urban, with a population density of 378 individuals per square mile.

CITY 2000 Census 2010 Census

Bartlett 1,675 1,623

Cedar Park 26,049 48,937

Florence 1,054 1,136

Georgetown 28,339 47,400

Granger 1,299 1,419

Hutto 1,250 14,698

Jarrell * 984

Leander 7,596 26,521

Liberty Hill 1,409 967

Round

Rock

61,136 99,887

Taylor 13,575 15,191

Thorndale 1,278 1,336

Thrall 710 839

Weir 591 450

Source: U.S.Census Bureau

Williamson County has a large group of working age adults (253,813) from 20-64 year of age, with the largest

group being the 35 - 49 year old group. The 65 years and over age group comprises approximately 8.7% or 37,681

of the population. The median age for Williamson County is 34.1 years, which is slightly older than the median age

for the State of Texas which is 33.0 years. A breakdown of population by sex and age follows:

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Population by Sex and Age

Male 208,032

Female 214,647

Under 18 121,452

18 & over 301,227

20 – 24 22,067

25 – 34 63,547

35 – 49 101,818

50 – 64 66,381

65 & over 37,681

TOTAL POPULATION 422,679

Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2010 Demographic Profile – TX – Williamson County

Some of the characteristics of children and youth in Williamson County from the U.S. Census Bureau are as

follows:

Children and Youth Characteristics

Children 3 to 17 years in households 87,021

Children 3 to 17 years enrolled in school 78,345

Public school 87.5%

Private school 12.5%

Children 3 to 17 not enrolled in school 8,676

Lives with biological, step or adopted parent 93.3%

Lives with grandparent 3.5%

Lives with other relatives 1.8%

Lives in foster care or unrelated caregiver 1.3%

Children living in single parent family 23,021

Source: U.S. Census Bureau – SO901 Children Characteristics - American FactFinder

Williamson County has a diverse population; a breakdown by race and ethnicity follows:

Population by Race and Ethnicity

White 330,191

African Amercian 26,196

Asian 20,433

American Indian & Alaska Native 2,629

Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander 413

Other 29,336

Identified by two or more races 13,481

Hispanic or Latino 98,034

Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2010 Demographic Profile

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COUNTY HOUSING, EDUCATION AND ECONOMICS

Williamson County’s housing market and economy has faired better during the recent recession than most in the

U.S. The number of building permits during 2010 was 1,937, down slightly from the 1,965 building permits issued

in 2009. The estimated median house or condo value in 2009 was $175,300 and the median contract rent in 2009

for aprtments was $809 per month. Other statistics on Williamson County housing follow in the chart below.

Housing Status

Total units 162,773

Occupied units 152,606

Owner-occupied units 105,784

Population in owner-occupied (# of individuals) 301,180

Renter-occupied units 46,822

Population in renter-occupied (# of individuals) 116,402

Vacant units 10,167

Vacant: for rent 4,558

Vacant: for sale 2,205

Vacant: for seasonal/recreational use 858

Source: U.S. Census

Willaimson County has several universities within the county, and several more within a 50 mile radius. Schools in

the county include Southwestern University, Austin Community College, Texas A & M Health Science Center

College of Medicine, and Texas State University at the Round Rock Higher Education Center. The educational

attainment statistics are significaltly higher than both the State of Texas and the U.S.

Educational Attainment

Population 25 years and over 272,167

Less than 9th grade 3.7%

9th to 12

th grade, no diploma 4.5%

High school graduate (includes equivalency) 20.7%

Some college, no degree 25.7%

Associate’s degree 8.7%

Bachelor’s degree 25.2%

Graduate or professional degree 11.5%

Percent high school graduate or higher 91.8%

Percent bachelor’s degree or higher 36.7%

Source: U.S. Census

Information from the Texas Workforce Solutions – Rural Capital Area finds that Williamson County’s

economy has performed well over the past decade, creating new jobs every year except one. Williamson

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County has weathered the national recession well, only losing 1,700 jobs in 2009 and actually adding 900

jobs in 2010.

The Williamson County unemployment rate has risen from its recent low of 3.8% in 2007 to 7.4% in

2010. The county rate has been consistently lower than the U.S. rate.

The largest industries in Williamson County are:

Trade, Transportation, & Utilities – 26% of county employment

Government – 18%

Leisure & Hospitality -12%

Professional & Business Services – 11%

Health Services – 9%

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Employment in all major industries has grown over the past 5 years except in construction and manufactoring.

Significant growth occurred in professional services (+47%), information/printing (+48%), and leisure/hospitality

(+39%). Manufacturing and construction employments declined over the same period, but at a much smaller rate

than the U.S. average. Information from the U.S. Census Bureau on employment is below:

Civilian employed population over 16 years 211,294

Total number of firms, 2007 33,853

Management, business & financial occupations 38,412

Computer, engineering, & science occupations 22,137

Community & social service 4,101

Legal occupations 2,685

Healthcare practitioner & technical occupations 9,623

Healthcare support 3,912

Fire fighting & other protective services 2,244

Law enforcement 2,082

Food preparation & serving 10,791

Farming, fishing & forestry 293

Source: U.S. Census Bureau – S1401 Fact Finder, Williamson County

The median household income for 2009 was $69,862 in Williamson County, higher than the statewide average of

$48,286.

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COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTICIPANTS

Patty Conner Hope Alliance

Brenda Staples Children’s Advocacy Center

Dean Higginbotham WCSD – Victim Assistance Unit

Lori Scott Round Rock Serving Center

Marge Tripp Interagency Support Council

Scott Ferguson WBC-Opportunities

Brenagh Tucker WBC-Opportunities

LeAnn Powers United Way of Williamson County

Irene Odom District Attorney’s Office

Donna Harrell Veteran’s Services

Sharon Guzman Bluebonnet Trails Community Center

Kathy Gay Liberty Hill ISD

Dee Dee Kristan Liberty Hill ISD

Karla Barth Leander ISD

Chris King Hutto ISD

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Dawn Jennings Georgetown ISD

Barbara Fountain DSHS

Hollie Chenault Bluebonnet Trails

Mary McKenna Georgetown ISD

Scott Alacon GISD; Georgetown Healthcare Foundation;

Lone Star Circle of Care

Dana Bushong Hutto ISD

Alan Hildebrand Round Rock ISD

Adriann Ivey Leander ISD

Cynde Williams Georgetown ISD

Jannie Vickers Liberty Hill ISD

Gary W. Chandler Coupland ISD

Robyn Boegel Round Rock ISD

Terrie Chambers Liberty Hill ISD

Cura Schwartz Georgetown ISD

Ron Jones Georgetown ISD

Linda Meigs Wilco MH Task Force/Advocate

Kay Kirby Round Rock ISD

Angie Bunafede Leander ISD

Trish Cook Florence ISD

Beverly Swander Hutto ISD

Lyndsey Reed Granger ISD

Annie Burwell Wilco MOT/MH Task Force

Carolyn Pannell Jarrell ISD

Donna Tenelly Jarrell ISD

Michelle Miner Wilco Juvenile Services

Matt Smith Wilco Juvenile Services

Laurie Born City of Round Rock

Capt. Mike Gleason Wilco Sheriff’s Office

Lt. Derral Partin Leander P.D.

Lt. Pat Erickson Wilco Sheriff’s Office

Terri Countess Wilco Commissioner’s Office/Precinct 3

Capt. Mike Harmon Cedar Park P.D.

Lt. Ken Evans Round Rock P.D.

Chief Mark Birchard Precinct 4 Constable’s

Sgt. William Beechinor Precinct 2 Constable’s Office

Chief Randolph Doyer Precinct 2 Constable’s Office

Lt. Roy Fikac Precinct 1 Constable’s Office

Lt. Luana Wilcox Leander P.D.

Kathy Grimes Pierce Wilco Commissioner’s Office/Precinct 2

Chief Teresa Locke Precinct 3 Constable’s Office

Cynthia Guerrero Williamson County & Cities Health District

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John Bradley District Attorney

Tom Eastes Magistrate & Indigent Defense Coordinator

Honorable Suzanne Brooks Judge County Court at Law 1

Tommy Coleman District Attorney’s office

Cynthia Long Commissioner Precinct Two

David Tristan County Court at Law 4

AREAS ADDRESSED

Law Enforcement

IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 1: There is an increased problem with juveniles, including statutory

juvenile offenses, homelessness, and substance abuse.

Supporting Data:

*There has been a steady increase in cases filed on youth offenders in the City of Round Rock as

demonstrated below:

Total Cases

FY 2006/2007 – 1,019

FY 2007/2008 – 1,076

FY 2008/2009 – 1,249

Offenses have taken place in Transportation Code, Alcohol Beverage Code, Driving Under the Influence,

Health & Safety Code, Education Code, Curfew, and other Penal Code violations.

*In the City of Round Rock there were 329 curfew violations filed in FY 2008/2009, an increase from

228 that were filed during the previous year.

*The incidence of excessive drinking was self-reported by 17% of youth surveyed in county health

rankings found at www.countyhealthrankings.org/texas/Williamson. This is higher than the national

benchmark of 8% and the state benchmark of 16%.

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*The Williamson County Sheriff’s has seen a substantial increase in the number of juveniles detained

with 76 taking place in 2009 and 343 juveniles detained in 2010.

*During 2010 in the City of Leander there were 98 citations to juvenile offenders. This number is

decreasing for a total of 38 for the partial year stats for 2011. This is due to discussions with the school

district to implement in-school alternative for school discipline and loss of the middle school Student

Resource Officer.

*A survey by the Texas Homeless Network “Point-In-Time Results 2011” for Williamson County Burnet

Counties showed that of 539 people surveyed 27.4% of the respondents met HUD’s definition of

homeless. The remainder met the school districts definition through the McKinney-Vento Homeless

Assistance Act (Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act).

Goals: Increase the success of youth and reduce the number of offenses committed by juveniles.

Reduce the number of youth involved with drugs and/or alcohol by offering more preventative and

deterrent programs such as Shattered Dreams with more frequency.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Provide or support training and education programs for parents that include understanding of legal rights

and information on mental health.

*Support effective deterrents with consequences to help youth stay and get back on a positive track.

Expand programs that are in place with JP’s to work with truancy problems with students from local

ISD’s.

*Consider creation of a county-wide court for juveniles that have committed a Class C offense.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

Work closely with Justice of the Peace offices, school districts, and parents to help combat problems with

juvenile offenders.

Outcomes:

More juveniles and parents receiving training and education will help reduce the number of youths that

become involved with the justice system, and reduce juvenile recidivism.

Existing or Planned Efforts Already Addressing this Issue:

Priority Level: High Medium Low

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IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 2: There is a need to retain qualified and trained law enforcement

officers who can be properly equipped to deal with problems including traffic control issues, white collar

crime and DWI offenses.

Supporting Data:

*During 2010 the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office worked or assisted in 2,412 traffic accidents. They

also made 28,903 traffic stops, with 10,758 citations issued.

*During 2010 the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office arrested 124 individuals on charges of DWI.

*The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office had an increase in white collar crime, which includes

debit/credit card abuse, forgery, fraud, fraudulent use of identifiers, identity theft, internet fraud and

tampering with an identification number. There were 410 cases in 2008, 426 cases in 2009, and 482 cases

during 2010.

Goals:

*Keep the roadways safe in Williamson County through vigilant enforcement and successful prosecution

of DWI offenses.

*Reduce the amount of white collar crime through investigation and prosecution of identified cases, while

providing assistance to the victims of this type of crime.

*To obtain better data of traffic patterns in order to help identify areas of concern and allow for more

efficient use of valuable resources.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Monitor traffic patterns and associated problems with Mobile Data Collection devices (also known as

Stealth Boxes). If grant funds are available for this equipment purchase, the agencies would work on

interlocal agreements for shared use.

*Work on creation of a Joint Task Force to prevent and investigate white collar crime, which could also

serve as a single location for victims to receive information and assistance following an ID theft, or other

white collar crime.

*Establish a consolidated regional effort within the Austin Regional Intelligence Center (ARIC) to

address white collar crime.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

*Provide education to the public on identify theft and credit card abuse.

*Provide a consolidated source of information for victims of white collar crime.

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*Purchase portable breath testing devices, AlcoBlow that will allow law enforcement officers to identify

the presence of alcohol on individuals.

*Obtain more accurate information on traffic in order to identify accurately where more enforcement is

needed.

Outcomes:

*Equipment to identify alcohol more accurately will allow officers to assist in prosecution of those who

chose to drive under the influence. Stronger enforcement of DUI will be a deterrent and will help reduce

the number of individuals that commit DUI, thereby keeping the roadways safer.

*More accurate traffic data will help utilize officers time more efficiently and to increase the safety of

roadways.

*Education for law enforcement officers and the public on white collar crime will assist in the reducing

white collar crimes and provide a resource of assistance to victims after they have suffered from identify

theft.



IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 3: Law enforcement officers are challenged with calls that involve a

mental health need, including those that frequently utilize emergency resources and veterans dealing with

mental health issues.

Supporting Data:

*The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Team responded to 5,370 calls during 2011.

Assistance with calls involving mental health were received from police departments from the cities of

Cedar Park, Georgetown, Hutto, Leander, Round Rock and Taylor.

*The Crisis Intervention Team provided mental health assistance to 242 juveniles and 65 veterans.

*Law enforcement officers with a Basic Peace Officer Certificate are required to complete a 40-hour

mental health training course.

*The veteran population in the State of Texas is higher than most other states. The Texas population is

composed of 7% veteran population, as opposed to less than 1% for the United States as a whole.

Veterans account for 9% of the Williamson County population, or it is estimated by the Department of

Veterans Affairs that there are 36,837 veterans in the county, with the number expected to increase

rapidly due to deployments ending. (Office of the Actuary, Office of Policy and Planning, Department of

Veterans Affairs: VetPop 2007 County: County-Level Veteran Population by State, 2010-2030).

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*By the year 2017, the veteran population is estimated to be 39,013, with 26% of that number being

between the ages of 17 and 44. A review of the number of military discharges, including Guard and

Reserve, reveals that in the 23 month period from February of 2010 to November of 2011, 1,574

discharged service members noted “Williamson County” as their home of record. Due to the proximity to

Ft. Hood and the draw-down of military personnel in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, that number is

expected to continue to climb.

*The current economic climate has created issues with returning veterans. A survey taken from this

group indicated that only 53.3% of those queried were employed full-time, with an additional 10%

employed on a part-time basis. Additionally, 46.7% of those responses indicated that they were not

attending any institution of higher education. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs indicates

that the number of veterans affected by homelessness is on the rise, with a high percentage of these

veterans being recently discharged. (An Analysis of Utilization of Existing Benefits by Recently

Discharged Veterans: Graduate Research Paper for Texas State University August 2011, Donna Harrell,

MSIS).

*There is a strong need for peer-to-peer counseling for veterans in Williamson County. Currently there

are five locations in the county that serve between 2 to 8 persons each week.

Goals:

*Provide assistance to veterans who are returning from deployment with mental health issues such as

PTSD to help with their reintegration into the community. Resources for returning veterans will help

reduce the occurrence of family violence and suicide.

*Expand the mental health programs available in the county in order to establish a program that will allow

more frequent proactive calls to individuals that are identified with high utilization of emergency services.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Continued collaboration between the local mental health authority, law enforcement, hospital emergency

department, County’s Veterans Service Officer, VA, and others.

*Locate grant funding to establish a pilot mental health program that can provide proactive house calls to

individuals that frequently utilize costly emergency services.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

*Better services for veterans that are returning from deployment to assist in their successful reintegration

into our communities.

*Establish a team that can help individuals identified with chronic conditions with wrap around care in

their homes that includes case management, improves medication management and other assistance to

avoid unnecessary emergency calls.

Outcomes:

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*Reduced suicide attempts and completions, decreased unemployment and reduced incidence of family

violence.

*Reduction of inappropriate 911 calls and uncompensated emergency room visits which will result in a

savings to taxpayers through proactive diversions.



IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 4: Funding is needed to support training, equipment and personnel for

Law Enforcement (LE) Strike Teams which promote and assist with regional mutual aid.

Supporting Data:

*The recent fires in 2011 in Leander and Bastrop have created a drain on law enforcement and proven the

need for expansion of the LE Strike Team. One example of this is the amount of overtime that was

required of law enforcement agencies to handle these disasters. The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office

along had 361 hours of overtime that was a direct result of the Leander fires.

*During the Leander fires of 8/15/11 and 9/5/11 the City of Leander Police Department and Fire

Department received assistance from Williamson County Sheriff’s office, Cedar Park PD, Department of

Public Safety, and Cedar Park and Round Rock Fire Departments.

Goals:

*Promote regional mutual aid through expansion of the current LE Strike Team. Expansion of the LE

Strike Team would require additional training and equipment, especially for large events that occur, such

as the Bastrop fires.

*Continue the efforts to equip Regional Armored Assets that were funded through a CJAC grant. This

would include, but not be limited to, electronic equipment that would allow sharing of videos regionally.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Provide more training to the LE Strike Team to ensure preparedness and a coordinated effort between

multiple jurisdictions when regional mutual aid is required.

*Purchase equipment that is needed for expansion of the regional LE Strike Team which would include,

but not be limited to barricades, traffic vests, shot guns, sleeping bags, riot batons, knee and elbow pads,

etc.

Outputs/Outcomes:

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Outputs:

*A better response when a disaster occurs and the regional LE Strike Team’s service is needed.

*Preparedness training will improve the coordination of resources from multiple jurisdictions during a

major event.

Outcomes:

*Quicker and more coordinated responses during a major event will allow those impacted by a disaster or

major event to receive vital assistance quicker.

*Law enforcement officers will be better prepared for a major event, and equipped with the necessary

tools to assist those impacted.



Prosecution/Courts

IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 1: Funds for translation/transcription of recordings and Spanish

interpreters for documents and court proceedings are needed for the prosecution of a crime.

Supporting Data:

There is an increase in number of recordings that are being used because of taped confessions, phone

confessions, phone calls, interviews, etc. Juries need a certified translation from Spanish to English, as

well as certified transcripts of English tapes to assist the jury in listening to the recordings.

Goals:

To provide a jury a certified translation or transcript of a recording whenever it is needed during the

course of a trial or jury deliberations.

Strategies/Tasks:

Find grant funding to provide for certified translation and/or transcription of recorded evidence.

Outputs/Outcomes:

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Outputs:

Increase the number of certified translations and/or transcriptions that are provided to juries in Williamson

County.

Outcomes:

Certified translations and/or transcriptions will provide more clear information for jurors, allowing them

to arrive at decisions where justice can be served.



IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 2: There is a need for equipment and personnel to transition the courts

in Williamson County to a paperless process which would aide in efficiency, accuracy, and discovery, as

well as reduce storage costs.

Supporting Data:

Tarrant County has undergone a conversion to paperless system and has seen cost savings, and an

increase in efficiency.

Goals:

To have a fair and efficient court system where justice can be reached for both victims of crimes and

those accused of committing crimes.

Strategies/Tasks:

Work with the Indigent Defense Task Force and others on analyzing and streamlining justice system.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

Purchase equipment needed for a paperless court system, hire consultants and personnel as needed to

implement suggested changes.

Outcomes:

More accurate and efficient judicial process that leads to fair justice for victims and those accused of

crimes.


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IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 3: There is a need for additional funding to pay for independent

private labs to do quicker DNA testing during investigations.

Supporting Data:

*The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) defines a backlogged case as one that has not been tested 30 days

after it was submitted to the laboratory. There are two types: (1) casework backlogs and (2) convicted

offender and arrestee DNA backlogs.

*DNA collection and analysis gives the criminal justice field a powerful tool for convicting the guilty and

exonerating the innocent. DNA analysis is a powerful tool because each person’s DNA is unique (with

the exception of identical twins). Therefore, DNA evidence collected from a crime scene can implicate or

eliminate a suspect, similar to the use of fingerprints. Additionally, when evidence from one crime scene

is compared with evidence from other using CODIS, those crime scenes can be linked to the same

perpetrator locally, statewide, and nationally.

*Currently, it takes the Department of Public Safety between six months and one year to conduct DNA

testing.

Goals:

To avoid delays in trials and to obtain timely DNA evidence for jurors to use during criminal trials to

assist them with their decisions.

Strategies/Tasks:

Locate funding sources to provide for this needed resource.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

Locate DNA lab in the area and find funding source to pay for their more timely delivery of services.

Outcomes:

There will be no delays in justice being served in Williamson County.



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IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 4: There is a need for court initiated guardianship investigators to

determine the necessity of a guardianship for the elderly or disabled.

Supporting Data:

*The population of Williamson County is increasing and therefore there is also an increase in the number

of cases that require investigation. In 2010, there were seven cases that required guardianship

investigation, which was done by attorneys. In 2011 the number of cases requiring guardianship

investigations jumped to 19, a 171% increase.

*Due to the number of cases, there was a lag time between the request for guardianship and the

investigative hearing, potentially placing disabled or elderly individuals in peril.

*The investigative portion of the guardianship process could be more appropriately done by a licensed

social worker. In addition to being trained to conduct psycho-social evaluations, this task could be done

at a substantial savings to taxpayers.

*During 2010 the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office reported 7 cases involving injury to an elderly

person, or invalid.

Goals:

*Obtain funding to establish a guardianship program that will serve the needs of the elderly and disabled

in Williamson County.

*Work in collaboration with other governmental entities, such as Adult Protective Services, MOT,

County Court at Law and the County Attorney’s office to create a seamless process for investigations and

hearings.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Hire an investigator to help with guardianship coordination and establish the processes and procedures

necessary to achieve this goal.

*Create a multi-disciplinary team to assist in establishing policies and procedures, as well as monitor the

guardianship program.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

Establishing an efficient and effective guardianship program.

Outcomes:

*Ensures the the elderly and disabled will be protected in a timely and cost effective manner.

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*Decisions on guardianship will be made by a skilled multi-disciplinary team, resulting in the better

outcomes for the elderly and disabled.


Currently, this process is done by attorneys in a more costly and less efficient manner, often with a delay

between the time of filing and the guardianship hearing.


Victim’s Services

IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 1: There is an identified need to continue and expand

emergency shelter for victims of family violence, homeless and veterans that includes wrap-around

therapeutic services such as crisis and mental health counseling, substance abuse, suicide prevention, case

management with financial and transitional assistance, and options for affordable housing upon leaving

emergency shelter.

Supporting Data:

There is only one emergency shelter in Williamson County for victims of family and sexual violence. It

has 35 beds and has had to find alternative refuge for more then 20 families every month over the last

year.

In September 2011, the shelter had to find alternative shelter for 42 families because it remained at

capacity. Hope Alliance has documented a 75% increase, between 2009 and 2010, in the number of

family and sexual violence victims that were provided shelter. During 2010, Hope Alliance provided

7,751 nights of safety to 373 women and children (HHSC, 2010) with 87% of those sheltered reporting

that they would have been homeless had they not been able to enter the shelter when they did.

Victims typically have three immediate needs after experiencing a crime: 1) The need to be and feel safe,

2) The need to express their emotions; and 3) The need to know “What comes next?” (US Department of

Justice, First Response to Victims of Crime: A Guidebook for Law Enforcement Officers, April 2008).

Victims of domestic violence have higher rates of major depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

(PTSD), and drug and alcohol problems than non-victims (Schechter, “Expanding Solutions for Domestic

Violence and Poverty”, 2000).

According to a recent study of intimate partner violence, victims often develop psychiatric disorders –

68.2% suffered from major depressive disorders and 50% suffered PTSD (Journal of Affective Disorders,

Volume 66, Issue 2-3, Pages 133-138, M. Stein).

The National Institute of Health Co-Morbidity Study found that 12.2% of men and 26.5% of women who

were molested developed PTSD (Kilpatrick, Dean and Acierno, Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2003).

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Studies have found the following mental health problems as a result of criminal victimization:

*Thoughts of suicide (Kilpatrick, et al. 1992)

*Attempting suicide (Kilpatrick, et al. 1985)

*Developing alcohol or other drug abuse problems (Cottler et al. 1992)

*Anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder (Saunders,

1992).

The county’s Local Mental Health Authority is directed by the State of Texas to provide priority services

to persons primarily diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, thus making

many crime victims ineligible for available counseling services (Bluebonnet Trails Community Services),

2009).

During 2010, Hope Alliance provided 1,110 professional counseling hours to 262 survivors of crime and

had a wait list of more than 40 individuals throughout the year (HHSC, 2010).

During 2011 the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Counseling Programs were able to

provide 1,400 hours of individual therapy to 85 children; victim advocacy for more than 400 children;

family counseling for 32 families; and 200 hours of parent consultation/coaching through the efforts of 2

full time licensed child and family therapists.

Peer support groups have long been recognized as an effective way to assist participants in dealing with

the after-effects of trauma. Peer support groups are empowered and provide participants with:

*A way to break down barriers of isolation;

*A safe, confidential atmosphere for women, teens, or veterans to express what is happening in

their lives without having to fear negative consequences of those revelations;

*A naturally empathetic space, free from criticism and prejudice, which facilitates reflection and

introspection. The non-judgmental atmosphere of the group diminishes feelings of guilt, as well as

defensive reactions such as justification. Participants are free to understand themselves better, identify

their feelings, rescue their values and reconstruct their own identities.

*A way of socializing participants’ experience through identification with others. Peer support

strengthens positive role models, provides a sense of identity, and offers a space for identifying and

transforming traditional roles and values.

*A place where participants are able to work towards personal growth and change, but where

individual choices and rhythms are respected.

*Hope Alliance facilitated 1,414 support group hours for 225 family and sexual assault survivors. An

additional 30 survivors were on a wait list for support group services (HHSC, 2010).

*Bluebonnet Trials & Heroes Night Out provided 144 veterans peer-to-peer counseling services, and

performed community resource coordination for basic needs for another 327 during 2011.

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*Hope Alliance provided 608 family and sexual violence survivors 1,645 hours of case management

services that assisted them with recovery and stabilization. This included developing individualized

service plans, safety planning, providing needed referrals, and assistance with financial literacy,

employment, and childcare. Hope Alliance helped 1,376 victims develop personalized safety plans.

Goals:

*Readily available assistance to all victims of crime, including but not limited to: the elderly, veterans,

children, immigrants and single parents, in English, Spanish, or the appropriate language.

*Continue and expand emergency shelter and services for victims of family violence, homeless and

veterans.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Apply for federal, state, foundation and local funding and continue to improve collaboration between the

safety net providers to best use resources, avoid duplication of services, and identify new and improved

ways to assist those in need.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs: Decrease the number of individuals that are on the waiting list for services. Increase

public awareness of family violence problems and prevention methods.

Outcomes: A safer community for families through meeting the needs of victims of crimes, while

working with courts to prosecute perpetrators of crimes to ensure appropriate justice is achieved.


*The county has services for victims of crime that are described in supporting data section of the

Community Plan.


IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 2: There is a need for continued and expanded crisis intervention and

forensic investigation for victims of crime. Crisis intervention services are also needed for children,

individuals with mental health problems and veterans as they are returning from deployments.

Supporting Data:

*In 2010, 242 Texas children died as a result of child abuse or neglect; three of those were in Williamson

County. In 2011 Child Protective Services conducted 2,193 investigations in Williamson County of

alleged child abuse.

*During 2010, the local family and sexual violence program (Hope Alliance) provided crisis assistance to

2,192 survivors of crime. Assistance included hotline assistance; forensic examinations and interviews;

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hospital and law enforcement accompaniment and suicide response. During 2010, 157 sexual assault

survivors were accompanied to their forensic exam by a Hope Alliance victim advocate.

*The Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center is staffed with 2 registered nurses who are certified

as Pediatric Sexual Assault Examiners. These nurses provided 40 examinations to children while working

with family members so they can understand the physical aspects of abuse.

*During 2011, the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Counseling Programs were able to

provide 1,400 hours of individual therapy to 85 children; victim advocacy for more than 400 children;

family counseling for 32 families; and 200 hours of parent consultation/coaching through the efforts of 2

full time licensed child and family therapists.

*The number of survivors requesting assistance via Hope Alliance’s 24-hour hotline has increased 90%

between 2009 and 2010 (HHSC, 2010).

*The Round Rock Area Serving Center served 55,896 individuals during 2010 and their 2011 caseload is

running 7% ahead of last year’s stats, with 49,353 people being served through October 2011. In 2011

the Serving Center helped 12,468 unduplicated households, with 11,240 food vouchers, 22 families were

placed in temporary shelter, and they issued 38 gasoline and 6,179 clothing and furniture vouchers.

Assistance was provided to other parts of the county through Hill Country Community Ministries, The

Caring Place, and other churches and non-profits.

*In an eleven month period from January to November of 2011, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office,

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) responded to 5,370 crisis calls. Calls came from local hospital emergency

rooms, schools, citizens, and Cedar Park, Georgetown, Hutto, Leander, Round Rock and Taylor police

departments. There were 242 calls regarding juveniles and 65 calls involving a veteran. In addition there

were 39 identified suicides completed in 2010. As of November 2011, the amount of suicides for the

partial year was 33, with additional cases expected to be identified after statistics from the Travis County

Medical Examiners office become available in January or February 2012.

*In 2011, the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center’s forensic programs were able to:

-Provide 2 fulltime forensic interview specialists (one bilingual)

-Conduct 577 forensic interviews for children

-Host monthly multi-disciplinary client staffing sessions

-Staff more than 200 multi-disciplinary investigative cases

-Provide victim support service for 350 families

-Provide crisis intervention services for 313 families

-Provide emergency on-call services on weekends

*In addition, the County’s non-law enforcement crisis team called the Mobile Outreach Team (MOT) that

is comprised of licensed mental health providers responded to approximately 4,100 calls for individuals in

crisis during 2011.

*Most of the calls responded to by the MOT were for psychiatric emergencies, substance abuse and/or

overdose. Approximately 20% of the calls were in response to a suicide attempt.

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*A 2007 DOD supported study published in the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) found that the

combined DOD screening identified 20.3% to 42.4% of soldiers as requiring mental health treatment,

consistent with rates reported among recent veterans seeking care at Veterans Affairs facilities (Milliken,

C., Auchterlonie, J., Hoge, C. Longitudinal Assessment of Mental Heath Problems Among Active and

Reserve Component Soldiers Returning From the Iraq War, 2007; 298 (18); 2141-2148).

*Studies have found that in addition to more general relationship problems, families of veterans with

PTSD have more family violence, more physical and verbal aggression, and more instances of violence

against a partner. In these studies, female partners of veterans with PTSD also self-reported higher rates

of perpetrating family violence than did the partners of veterans without PTSD (Calhoun, P.S., Beckham,

J.C., & Bosworth, H.B. (2002). Caregiver burden and psychological distress in partners of veterans with

chronic post traumatic stress disorder, Journal of Traumatic Stress, 15, 205-212 and Jordan, B.K.

Marmar, C.B., Fairbank, J.A., Schlenger, W.E., Kulka, R.A., Hough, R. L., et al (1992) Problems in

families of male Vietnam veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical

Psychology, 60, 916-926).

*A Center for New American Security study estimates that a military veteran commits suicide every

eighty minutes. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 18 veterans a day commit suicide.

These studies are based on national figures, but given Williamson County’s higher rate of veteran

population than national and state averages, this is an area of concern.

*The Williamson County Mental Health Task Force has met monthly since 2002 to assist agencies

involved with crisis intervention in collaboration in an attempt to try to achieve a seamless crisis system

without duplication of valuable resources, and an improved system and outcomes for those in need.

Goals:

*To minimize trauma to victims by providing professional, specialized age appropriate investigative

services for all victims of crime.

*To continue to provide quick and effective crisis intervention assistance to those in need so that they can

be connected with appropriate mental health and substance abuse services and avoid interaction with the

criminal justice system.

*To reduce the number of suicides completed by Williamson County residents.

*To have the resources to do more follow up and preventative calls to those that are identified as frequent

utilizers of emergency first response services.

*Expand the local crisis respite center to include a 24-hour hold to help stabilize those in crisis that do not

meet the requirements, or the space availability in the state hospital system.

Strategies/Tasks:

Apply for federal, state, foundation and local funding to support and expand crisis intervention efforts and

continue to improve collaboration between the safety net providers to best use resources, avoid

duplication of services, and identify new and improved ways to assist those in need.

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Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

Obtain grant funding to establish a program to serve those with chronic conditions that are frequent

utilizers of emergency services.

Outcomes:

*It is anticipated that by establishing a program to preventatively address the chronic needs of an

identified group of frequent utilitzers of service (who account for a large number of non-emergency calls

to the 911 system) there will be a substantial savings to tax payers by reducing the amount of

uncompensated hospital emergency visits, as well as EMS, police and fire dispatches.

*With expanded crisis services Williamson County will be able to serve and stabilize more individuals

within their communities where greater family support is available, and will be able to hopefully reduce

the number of devastating suicides.



IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 3: There is an identified need for legal advocacy for victims of crime

as they proceed through the justice system.

Supporting Data:

*Hope Alliance victim advocates provided 663 hours of legal advocacy to 402 victims of family and

sexual violence. They also assisted 209 victims’ access crime victims’ compensation funds.

*Williamson County District Attorney’s office Victims’ Assistance Team provided service to 210 new

cases with victims of crime in 2011.

Goals:

*To continue to provide necessary and timely services to those that are victimized by violent crimes.

*To use electronic and social media resources where appropriate and available to improve access to

services by victims.

*To improve collaboration between agencies to ensure a seamless process from offense to conviction.

Strategies/Tasks:

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*Apply for federal, state, foundation and local funding to support and expand victims’ assistance efforts

and continue to improve collaboration between the safety net providers to best use resources, avoid

duplication of services, and identify new and improved ways to assist those in need.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs: Maintain or increase current levels of personnel who offer emergency shelter services,

24-hour crisis response and 24-hour access to emergency response, assistance, and support. Maintain or

increase food, clothing and financial assistance to victims of family violence and sexual assault.

Outcomes: Reduction of crisis, stress, trauma, and/or anxiety of victims that are navigating their

way through the court system in order to receive justice through increased understanding and knowledge

of crime victim’s rights and the legal system.

Providing legal advocacy for victims of crime will improve likelihood of justice being obtained, as well as

increase the feeling of safety for those that are receiving the support during this challenging time.



IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 4: There is an identified need for community awareness, education and

prevention of crimes committed against victims, including the areas of post traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD) for returning veterans, protective parenting classes as mandated by CPS, and elder fraud and

abuse.

Supporting Data:

Goals:

Strategies/Tasks:

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

Outcomes:



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Juvenile Services

IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 1: There is a need for wrap around mental health services for

juveniles and their families, including but not limited to substance abuse problems, counseling, case

management, reentry services, truancy problems, and transportation assistance to appointments.

Supporting Data:

*In CY 2011, Juvenile Services received a total of 191 referrals for substance abuse related offenses (35

Felony, 146 Misdemeanor, 10 Liquor Laws).

*In 2010, 967 urinalysis screenings were conducted as part of Juvenile Detention intake. Of these 62%

were positive for drugs (56% Marijuana alone, 6% Methamphetamine/Cocaine)

*Upon referral to Juvenile Services, all youth are administered the Massachusetts Youth Screening

Instrument Second Version (MAYSI-2) in order to screen for alcohol/drug use, anger/irritability,

depression/anxiety, somatic complaints, suicidal ideation, thought disturbance and traumatic experience.

In CY 2010, 2664 MAYSI screenings were conducted. Of these, 1264 (47%) identified youth as at-risk

in one of these areas requiring follow-up assessment and referral.

*The Justice Policy Institute (2010) reported that 70.4% of juveniles in the Juvenile Justice System

nationally have a mental health disorder (66.8% males, 81% females)

*Consistent with state-wide rates, the 1-year and 3-year recidivism rates for juveniles in Williamson

County are 28.4% and 59.7% respectively. These numbers identify a need for strengthening re-entry

services. (Texas Juvenile Probation Commission – May 2011)

*Many youth and families who reside in the eastern portion of the county struggle to access services due

to a lack of available transportation.

Goals:

*Create a multi-agency wrap-around program that will provide these services in the home and community

environments.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Coordinate and expand existing efforts through the use of a youth-focused mental health task force (see

Identified Need #4).

*Focus on expansion of these services as prevention and diversion from involvement with Juvenile

Services.

* Obtain grant-funding for a program coordinator as well as flexible funding for services.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

*Improved service delivery tailored to individual and family needs for youth and their families residing or

transitioning back into the community.

Outcomes:

*More youth and their families will receive appropriate support services and treatment in their home and

community environments resulting in improved youth and family outcomes including, reduced substance

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abuse, reduced referral to Juvenile Services, improved school attendance and academic achievement, and

improved mental health.


*Williamson County Juvenile Services operates two in-home and community-based services programs

(one in collaboration with Bluebonnet Trails Community Services) that combined served a total of 80

youth in CY 2010. Currently, these services are only available to youth on supervision with the

department and are not offered as prevention services.

*The CRCG of Williamson County meets to coordinate services for multi-agency youth in need.

Currently, there are no paid positions and no flexible funding available.


IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 2: There is a need for a county-wide, youth-focused mental health task

force for ISDs, Juvenile Services, and other youth-serving agencies to assist in collaboration and sharing

of strategies, providing a coordinated effort to bring mental health training to teachers/professionals;

pooling of resources to support students and parents; and, avoiding duplication of services when possible.

Supporting Data: *Williamson County Juvenile Services hosted a Mental Health in Schools Conference in October 2011

that was attended by key ISD professionals with representation from all ISDs located within the county.

During the planning session at the conference, both the youth-focused task force and continuing

professional education were listed as top priorities for the coming school year.

Goals: *To facilitate the ISDs and youth serving agencies in the creation of a county-wide, youth-focused mental

health task force.

Strategies/Tasks: *Help organize and facilitate the inaugural meeting of the ISDs/community agencies

and provide assistance to continue quarterly meetings and trainings as necessary.

*Identify mechanisms for pooling resources to assist multi-agency youth and their families as well as for

combined training and professional development opportunities for multi-agency professionals.

*Identify mechanisms for increased information sharing among agencies

*Focus on universal and targeted prevention strategies aimed at improving overall mental and physical

health as well as school attendance and academic achievement.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

*Creation of a Mental Health Task Force for ISD’s where students’ needs could be identified and relayed

to the Williamson County Mental Health Task Force by a selected representative

*Increase number of education and agency professional staff who receive specialized training in mental

health topics (ex: Motivational Interviewing for Assistant Principals)

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*Students and families will be better served through pooling of resources and interagency collaboration

and information sharing

Outcomes: *Better collaboration among school districts and youth-serving agencies with regard to needs of youth in

the county being more accurately identified and relayed to the Williamson County Mental Health Task

Force for incorporation into the overall plans of improvement to the county’s mental health system.

*Youth will receive more quality intervention and service due to the improved training level of the

professionals.



IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 3: There is a need for short-term respite shelter for youth that are

involved in a mental health crisis, as well as longer term shelters for homeless, or troubled teens.

Supporting Data: *Juveniles with intensive mental health needs who are referred to Juvenile Services often have lengthy

detention stays due to a lack of mental health crisis facilities and mental health residential programs in the

community. Many times these youth bounce back and forth between detention and out-of-county

psychiatric hospitals. The condition of many of these youth worsens during their detention stay.

*Post-adjudication correctional residential facilities around the state are not equipped to provide quality

care for youth with intensive mental health needs. Many times, these facilities will not accept these

youth, which leaves only 2 options – commitment to the Texas Youth Commission (felony only) or

release home without appropriate support/available treatment.

*The Crisis Intervention Team of Williamson County provided mental health assistance to 242 juveniles

in the community in 2011. It is often difficult to locate mental health crisis beds for youth – there are

currently no mental health crisis beds for youth located within the county.

Goals: *Increase access to crisis respite and/or residential treatment for youth with intensive mental health needs.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Locate grant funding to assist in establishing a crisis respite and/or residential treatment option for youth

within Williamson County.

*Consider expansion of existing adult respite center and/or partnering with other counties for a regional

facility.

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

*Decrease detention stays for youth with intensive mental health needs. Increase access to immediate and

appropriate treatment options for these youth located in or near the community where they live.

Outcomes:

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*Youth with intensive mental health needs and their families will have better long-term outcomes

resulting in improved overall health, improved school achievement, decreased delinquent activity, more

stability in their living situation, and less reliance on government assistance.


*Bluebonnet Trails Community Services is operating a 14-bed crisis respite unit for adult clients at the

San Gabriel Crisis Center in Georgetown. Currently, there are no youth beds available at this center.


IDENTIFIED NEED NUMBER 4: There is an identified need for mentoring and vocational training for

youth that will not be college bound.

Supporting Data:

*As indicated in this plan, of the county population 25 years and older (272,167), 28.9% have not

attended college.

*In School Year 2010-11, at the Williamson County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, 20

students earned their GED with plans to enter the workforce. Currently, no vocational programming

exists to assist them in taking the next step.

*School Year 2009-10 Annual Dropout Rates (grades 7-12) indicate that 70 students dropped out of

Leander ISD while an additional 167 dropped out of Round Rock ISD – Texas Education Agency

*The Breaking Schools’ Rules Report conducted by the Council of State Governments found that in

Texas, repeated suspensions and expulsions predicted poor academic outcomes. Only 40 percent of

students disciplined 11 times or more graduated from high school during the study period, and 31 percent

of students disciplined one or more times repeated their grade at least once. These students are in need of

both mentoring and vocational training programs.

*In CY 2011, 35 juveniles on probation supervision completed their supervision successfully with the aid

of a mentor.

Goals:

*Develop a vocational training program for at-risk youth who do not appear to be college bound.

*Connect at-risk youth with mentors in the community who can support them in attaining life and

vocational goals.

Strategies/Tasks:

*Obtain grant funds to support vocational programming for at-risk youth

*Identify industries for training and develop a group of prospective employers

*Contract with a vocational training provider

*Maintain and expand contracts with mentoring agencies

Outputs/Outcomes:

Outputs:

*Increase vocational training opportunities for at-risk youth

*Increase employment of youth and younger adults

*Increase at-risk youth access to mentors

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Outcomes:

*Increased vocational training and mentoring for this population will increase productivity, reduce the

unemployment rate, reduce the crime rate, and improve both individual and family outcomes resulting in

less reliance on government assistance.


*In December 2011, Williamson County Juvenile Services met with a vocational training organization as

a first step toward pursuing this goal. The agency expressed an interest in expanding their services to

Williamson County.

*Juvenile Services has an existing contract with a mentoring organization.


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